Jazz Play String Music to the Tune of 133 Points.
I was actually laughing at the Rockets’ defense in this game. It was so utterly pathetic that it didn’t even aggravate me. It was like watching a Benny Hill film where everytime one Utah player takes the ball, another Utah player magically appears all alone at one of eight various spots on the 3-point line.
Aaron Brooks connected on a made three for the 31st consecutive game. Wide open Jazz three. Both teams were on fire as Houston tied the game at 32 with 2:00 still to play in the period. Wide open Jazz three. Utah committed 9 turnovers in the quarter but Deron Williams‘ 20 points still allowed Utah to lead.
39-35 Jazz after 1.
Fueled by a nice dunk by Garret Temple and some good play-making by Jermaine Taylor, the Rockets’ subs were able to keep the lead at 4 for the 1st 6:00 of the 2nd. Wide open Jazz three. But then the starters came in and Kevin Martin proved that he is even a worse defender than Trevor Ariza. Wide open Jazz three. Wesley Matthews, wo you’ve probably never heard of, scored 11 points on Martin in the quarter, including 7 straight points.
70-59 Jazz at the half.
The lead got as high as 17 for Utah in the thirs quarter because they were hitting everything they threw up. Wide open Jazz three. And with Utah on fire from deep, Rick Adelman decided to go to zone defense rather than play Temple and Brooks together for added quickness to contest more shots. Wide open Jazz three. Utah went over 100 points and there was still over 3:00 in the 3rd.
107-94 Jazz after 3.
The gap got to 22 at 116-94 with 10:00 left. Who cares what happened after that?
Insights:
Well people, these are your new Houston Rockets with Kevin Martin. He had a great offensive game, much like the Rockets, but he played less-than-zero defense, also much like the Rockets. Martin went off for 32 points on 9/13 shooting. But offense only takes you so far.
Wesley Matthews scored 18 points on 7/9 shooting on Martin basically because Martin weighs as much as a chicken. And speaking of chicken, what’s the 4-letter word you add to “chicken ____” to describe people who play like him?
There was a play in the 3rd quarter when Martin was under the basket playing defense on a fastbreak but, rather than take a charge on Mehmet “Fried” Okur, he ran out of the way. Matt Bullard jokingly said, “Martin though about, for a half-second, taking the charge but he bailed out at the last second.” Bullard sort of laughed it off after he said it but what do you think Shane Battier was thinking?
It was only an 11-point game at the time that play occurred and, if Martin takes that charge and Houston gets a 3-pointer on the other end, it could’ve been nack to an 8-point game. That was a pivotal point and Martin showed his true colors. He may be 6’7″ and 185 lbs but that type of play has nothing to do with size, it is all about heart and I see none from Martin.
I do understand the irony in making that statement when I’ve been begging for T-Mac to be allowed to play but, I can promise you that McGrady would’ve tried to block the shot at least. He would ot have made the tough, hard-nosed play that Battier or Chuck Hayes would’ve made but he would’ve definitely contested ”Fried” Okur because he would have seen an opportunity to get a highlight block for SportsCenter.
Charles Barkley would have crucified Martin if he would’ve been on the court with him. That was the most embarrassing play in a night full of complete embarrasssment. Teams play like their best players so, Houston, you are reaping what you sewed.
What a pansy-ass,
Multatuli
| Houston Rockets (29-29) | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| field goalsrebounds | ||||||||||||||||
| pos | min | fgm-a | 3pm-a | ftm-a | +/- | off | def | tot | ast | pf | st | to | bs | ba | pts | |
| C. Budinger | F-G | 39:17 | 5-12 | 1-4 | 3-4 | -7 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 |
| L. Scola | F-C | 29:39 | 3-7 | 0-0 | 4-4 | -9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| C. Hayes | C-F | 29:43 | 2-5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -9 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| K. Martin | G | 33:39 | 9-13 | 2-4 | 12-13 | -22 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| A. Brooks | G | 29:59 | 7-15 | 3-9 | 2-2 | -22 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 19 |
| G. Temple | 18:01 | 3-7 | 0-3 | 5-7 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | |
| J. Jeffries | 15:42 | 2-5 | 0-0 | 3-4 | -15 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | |
| J. Taylor | 23:04 | 2-6 | 0-1 | 3-4 | -17 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | |
| D. Andersen | 10:56 | 1-5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | -13 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| J. Hill | 07:21 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 2-4 | -1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| H. Armstrong | 02:39 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | +1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| S. Battier | 00:00 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 240 | 35-79 | 6-21 | 34-42 | 11 | 23 | 34 | 21 | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 7 | 110 | ||
| 44.3% | 28.6% | 81.0% | team rebs: 5 | total to: 13 | ||||||||||||
